It is not suprising about Vw rethinking the Microbus. As others noted -

it was never realistic that VW  could deliver the van for much less than

$30,000US - instantly relegating it to "boutique" status  [ low sales   ]

i have a hunch that not many people on this list would be ready to cough up

[ hmmmm..maybe...]  $37,000 for a Microbus westy [ wrong?]

Other articles lately also highlight that the super fancy Phaeton product /
factory circus /

bentley programs and the slow european golf 5 sales have left VW in a
serious cash pinch.

thier US arm is now resorting to incentives to stop a sales slide.

http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0404/19/a01-126902.htm

I am recieved 2 "personal" letters last month from my dealer asking [
begging..]

me to come down a trade in my 2001 TurboLemon Golf for any VW they have on
their lot.

[ A Toureg for $20,000 might do it...]

Too bad - the Microbus woulda been much better than a silly Phaeton.

.02

Tom

        ----------
        From:   Vanagon Mailing List on behalf of Chris S.
        Reply To:       Chris S.
        Sent:   Wednesday, May 19, 2004 11:00 AM
        To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
        Subject:        Re: microbus is dead NVC

        Hermann,

        How about a link for those of us who can read German?

        Chris.

        > Just read online in a German magazine that VW boss pulled the plug
on the
        > microbus. Instead they will develop something on the T5 base. The
retro
        > look just doesn't sell in Europe, and the US market is not enough
to
        > warrant another retro model.Hermann de Boer
        > Kansas City,Missouri
        > 87 Westy "Eurospec"
        > 89 Syncro GL
        > "...even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat..."
        >  FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now!
        >